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Siya Kolisi says the SA team's goals at the Auckland venue are more important than him reaching 100 Test caps this season.
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi said the team’s success, and beating New Zealand at Eden Park, are more important than him reaching 100 Test caps. Picture: Dan Mullan/Getty Images
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi says ending New Zealand’s 31-year winning streak at Eden Park is one of the top priorities for the national side this year.
The All Blacks have not lost to a visiting team at the Auckland venue since 1994, when France snatched a 23–20 victory thanks to a late try by Jean-Luc Sadourny, which was called the ‘try from the end of the world’. New Zealand recorded their 50th consecutive win at the venue in August last year.
Boks on 15 wins out of 17
The top-ranked Springboks are likewise in a good space. They’ve won all four matches so far this season, fielding 47 new players, and were victorious in 11 of their 13 games last season.
They will take on the All Blacks at Eden Park in their first Rugby Championship encounter on 6 September.
In discussing his goals for the rest of the year, Kolisi said a win at the venue would be crucial to remaining the number one team in the world, which was his main goal.
“We would have to win in Auckland to be number one. It would be great if we could be number one and win all our games, with players also getting opportunities along the way.”
Kolisi has 93 Test caps after the Springboks’ 55–10 win over Georgia in Mbombela at the weekend. It is possible for him to reach 100 caps by the end of the season. But when asked about this, he said he would rather see the team succeed.
“If the team can get all the goals, that is most important,” he said.
Kolisi: Team success is more important than a personal milestone
The skipper added: “I am trying not to think of it to be honest. It’s obviously a huge honour to play 100 games. But I don’t want to think so far ahead. It could happen this year. It could happen next year. Either way, I am just grateful that I can just play again.”
The Bok captain said it was more important to see growth in his personal game, as well as in the squad.
“We are going to be judged on the standards that the guys have set last week. It doesn’t matter what the opposition does. If I am going to clean, how am I cleaning? Yes we can win the ball back but how did I clean? What was my intention in that clean?
“More importantly, just us getting better and delivering on the things that coach is speaking about.”
